Archive for the 'International Bird rescue research Center' Category

I received the news release below (and photographs) from my friends at International Bird Rescue and thought it might interest you. This organization is the GREATEST!! /Gary

California-based oiled bird rescue organization turns 40

The marking of an anniversary could not have been more poignant for California-based oil spill experts, International Bird Rescue, whose team played a key role in the response to last year’s Gulf oil spill.

The 40th anniversary of the wildlife group, formed in response to a San Francisco Bay oil spill in 1971, fell on the same day as the anniversary of the Gulf oil spill. Bird Rescue has responded to aquatic bird emergencies in all corners of the globe, from oiled common murres and bald eagles in Alaska following the Exxon Valdez to 20,000 penguins caught in an oil spill in South Africa.Read the rest of this entry »

Pelicans being treated at International Bird Rescue Research Center, Fairfield, California.

The International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield, California, is one of the most experienced waterfowl rescue and oiled bird cleaning facilities in the world.

IBRRC has sent a team of their experts, led by IBRRC director Jay Holcomb, to the oil spill area in the Gulf to help set up and staff rehabilitation centers in areas of Louisiana, Alabama and Florida where the oil might come ashore.

It came as no surprise to me to learn that my good friend Jay Holcomb and his team of wildlife rescue and oil spill experts from International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield have been activated to help with that HUGE oil spill from that blown-out rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Jay and I first met while we were cleaning birds during the 1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill when I was curator at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, CA. Jay continued on in the wildlife/oil spill business and is now, in my opinion, THE oiled wildlife expert. When there’s a big oil spill anywhere in the world, the call usually goes out for Jay to bring his team of experts to help them set up rescue and bird cleaning operations. Good luck, my friend, you’ve really got your work cut out for you on this one! /Gary

Our friends at International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield have a problem: Too many brown pelicans. IBRRC and three other wildlife rescue centers in Southern California have taken in nearly 500 of the giant starving and wet birds since Jan. 1. Pelicans take up an enormous amount of care and space and eat huge quantities of fish daily. The end result is the centers have run out of space and funds to care for the birds. They are VERY concerned that they may have to temporarily stop taking in these birds because off their dwindling resources (space, funds).

These organizations need our help in the form of cash donations to help them care for these distressed birds … and they particularly need financial support from the state (Dept. of Fish and Game) and Federal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) authorities who are ultimately responsible for the pelicans.

Astoria, Oregon — Coast Guard members from Air Station Sacramento, California, load cold and wet seabirds suffering from exposure onto an HC-130 plane for transport to International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in Fairfield, California. The federally protected loons, murrers, scoters and other seabirds were rescued by the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria, after becoming soiled by unusual sea slime caused by a harmful algae bloom along the Oregon coastline. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert)

The staff and volunteers at IBRRC are having trouble covering the costs of saving these large numbers of distressed seabirds. You can help — please do! http://www.ibrrc.org/donate.html

Thanks for caring.You can find out lots more about this in yesterday’s (Tuesday) blog. /Gary

Stranded by harmful sea foam, caged murres waiting to be checked in at IBRRC in Fairfield. (Paul Kelway/IBRRC)

The International Bird Rescue Research Center needs your help. So do a lot of seabirds that are in BIG trouble.

I just got a call from my friend Jay Holcomb, executive director of International Bird Rescue Research Center.

Jay works out of IBRRC’s bird center in Fairfield. When the Cosco Busan hit the Bay Bridge on Nov. 7, 2007, and spilled oil in the Bay, the oiled birds were taken to IBRRC for care. In my opinion, Jay and his staff and volunteers are the best in the business when it comes to caring for oiled and distressed seabirds. Jay travels all over the world to assist and advise when there’s a big spill.Read the rest of this entry »

Aquatic bird specialists at International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield, Calif., have been receiving reports and admitting pelicans exhibiting odd behavior. Their sister facility in Los Angeles is also seeing an influx in these ailing birds.

“As wildlife rehabilitators, we’re often the first group of people to see a trend developing. We’re the first to notice unusual behavior or illnesses in a population because we’re on the front lines, receiving calls from the public. So, with these pelicans, we know something is going on, we’re just not sure what it is,” said Jay Holcomb, executive director of International Bird Rescue.Read the rest of this entry »

The International Bird Rescue Research Center’s Northern California rehabilitation center in Fairfield has received 137 injured pelicans this year — and 115 of those pelicans have come in since June 15!

Most have been weak young birds that are learning how to hunt … but … recently, many have been brought in suffering from injuries from fishing hooks and from being entangled in fishing line.Read the rest of this entry »

COMMENTS:
This is an opportunity to catch world-class Grammy-nominated pianist Matt Herskowitz and friends on New Year’s Day in a rare Bay Area appearance. Juilliard-trained Herskowitz is on the rise as one of the most exciting pianists on the jazz/fusion scene. He recorded a holiday album with Barry Manilow and has recently made several TV appearances.

MOST IMPORTANT:
Proceeds from this concert will benefit the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), a non-profit that did an amazing job of rescuing and rehabilitating the birds impacted by the recent oil spill in SF Bay. You can learn more about this marvelous organization at http://www.ibrrc.org

Dear readers:
I’m sure you remember the International Bird Rescue Research Center. I wrote a lot about them both here and in my daily newspaper columns during the cleanup operations from the recent San Francisco Bay oil spill.

A lot of wild birds were killed when they got contaminated with oil from this spill. Fortunately, many of those oiled birds also lived to be released back into the wild because they were cared for and cleaned by the professional staff and caring volunteers at IBRRC.

IBRRC is a nonprofit organization and continues to operate because of the generous support of caring people like you. You can help and have an enjoyable New Year’s Day at the same time by purchasing a ticket and attending this wonderful concert. Thanks a BIG bunch! /Gary